Yoshihiro Honyaki Aoko Blue Steel Mirror Finished Yanagi Sushi Sashimi Japanese knife with Ebony Handle
SKU:
High-Carbon Care
This item is made from high-carbon steel. It offers excellent sharpness but can rust or develop a patina if not kept dry and properly maintained.
- 65 HRC
- No
- Free Nuri Lacquered Saya Included
Blade Hardness
HRC (Rockwell Hardness) measures how hard the blade's steel is. Kitchen knife steel typically falls in the high-50s to mid-60s on this scale. Harder steel is built to hold a fine edge over long use, while softer steel favors flexibility and easy resharpening. The right HRC depends on the steel and design, not a single higher-is-better number.
Stain Resistant
This steel is not stain resistant. High-carbon steel can rust or develop a patina if not kept dry and cared for, in exchange for the sharper edge it holds.
Saya Cover
This knife comes with its saya cover included at no additional cost, shaped to its exact blade for the same custom fit customers pay extra for on other knives.
Full Specifications
Blade
- Knife Type
- Yanagiba (Sashimi Knife)
- Primary Use
- Sashimi / Raw fish slicing
- Blade Metal
- Blue Steel #2
- Grade
- Honyaki
- Construction
- Mono-Steel
- Blade Hardness
- 65 HRC
- Blade Edge Type
- Single Bevel
- Blade Finish
- Mirror
- Stain Resistant
- No
Handle
- Handle Material
- Ebony
- Handle Shape
- Octagonal
- Bolster Material
- Water Buffalo Horn (Color Varies)
- Tang Type
- Partial Tang
Product Details
Our Yoshihiro Honyaki Aoko Mirror-Finished knives epitomize the highest quality in Japanese knife craftsmanship. The Ao Honyaki process is a meticulous method of pure water quenching that enhances the hardness of refined steel while imbuing it with exceptional resiliency, ensuring consistent performance in the most demanding conditions. The term Honyaki translates to "true forged," reflecting the timeless art of Japanese sword making. Crafted from a single piece of Blue Steel #2 with a hardness rating of 65 HRC, each knife is heated in furnaces that reach thousands of degrees and quenched using the Ao Honyaki technique to achieve remarkable hardness and durability. The blade is polished to a brilliant mirror finish, with incandescent wisps of light dancing across the surface of the blade's edge, known as the Hamon.
Our Honyaki Aoko knives are elegantly complemented by a traditional Japanese handle made from the finest Ebony, secured with a Water Buffalo horn bolster. This knife is accompanied by a protective lacquered magnolia wood saya, which is not only easy to clean but also resistant to stains and odors. This specific saya cover encases each knife beautifully, enhancing its appearance when not in use. For care, simply hand wash with a mild cleanser; all knives are NSF approved and handcrafted by skilled tradesmen in Japan.
The Yanagi is a long slicing knife specifically designed for creating thin slices of fish for sushi and sashimi, making it an essential tool in the arsenal of many chefs. The length and shape of the blade allow for long, uninterrupted strokes, preserving the freshness and integrity of the ingredient. The elegance of its thin blade, combined with its functionality, makes the Yanagi a powerful component in traditional Japanese cuisine, elevating even the simplest tasks to extraordinary levels.
Care & Origin
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Care Instructions
- Hand wash only.
Dry immediately.
Avoid the dishwasher. - Sharpening Method
- Sharpen by hand using whetstones. Do not use honing rods.